The door burst open, and six armed soldiers entered the small house. Two of them trained their weapons upon the woman who remained seated placidly before her tapestry frame; the other four, each positioning himself at a window or a door, held their guns at the ready.
"Where is he?" demanded the leader.
"I don't know," replied the woman.
"You are his wife."
"Nevertheless."
"The harder we search, the harder it will go on him when we finally find him," promised the leader.
"You will not harm a hair of his head," she answered serenely, returning her attention to the tapestry. "We both know that, so why do you make meaningless threats?"
"Then let me make a meaningful threat," said the leader. "If you do not tell me where the Toymaker is in the next ten seconds, I will order my men to kill you."
He nodded his head, and five safety mechanisms were disengaged as five weapons were aimed at her.
She waited seven seconds, then sighed and nodded.
"Where?" demanded the leader.
"Hell's-A-Comin'," she answered.
The leader ordered his men from the house, reported what he had learned, and returned to base.
)
